Project information

Wishing Tree Trust research project

We want to set up a new three-stage programme that will see families progress through to becoming leaders or volunteers on future programmes. We want to set this up as a pilot and have it independently evaluated, so we can demonstrate the effectiveness of our work and get it extended.

Charity information: Wishing Tree Trust

Need

Most interventions into disadvantages families under stress lack alternatives to taking children into care. Our programmes have given parents the support, advice, and insight they need in order to make changes and avoid the need for traumatising interventions. We can prevent so much heartache - and save the taxpayer a fortune.

Solution

We take families on a residential programme which is received as a holiday. During this time, a build a community among those present, we offer a range of activities and therapies, and in a relaxed and inspiring environment, we make it possible to envision change. This speeds up any parenting work or support within their community and enables people to bring inspiration back with them. A three stage programme will entrench and reward the changes made.

Aim 1

To run a successful pilot of a three stage programme for 12 families and have it evaluated.

Activities

» To recruit appropriate partner organisations, choose the families and put on three residential programmes over 12 months tailored to their needs » To work with Surrey University on the evaluation and promote the findings among all parenting and early prevention family work

What success will look like

Success will be completion of the programme and a detailed report demonstrating the positive outcomes that we so often witnessed.

Impact

There are many variables, but results in terms of reported improved family relationships, wellbeing and confidence can be extrapolated from research, and we will have testimonials from the participants over a longer period. We already have families who have stayed in touch who bear witness to the remarkable turnarounds that have taken place for them.

Risk

Risks include taking families and children into unfamiliar environments, offering them therapeutic tools which may affect them emotionally, and they bring problems which may get acted out. We have built a highly experienced who can cope with these eventualities. As parents accompany the children, there is no need for us to act in loco parentis which entails less risk.

Reporting

We will report on our website, and in any form of more detailed report that may be requested.

Location

We use different venues according to availability, specific needs and accessibility. Mostly these are in the South/South East. However, we can work anywhere in the UK

Beneficiaries

We work with the most deprived sections of the community, with referrals from social services, early prevention programmes, schools, Homestart and SureStart, women's refuges, refugees, and young mothers.

Why Us?

We believe we are the only charity offering this kind of residential project, and we have extensive experience on our team, many of whom have worked on refining the programme since 2000, and who offer a range of fabulous talent and skills.